From the Imprint–And Minnesota Boys, Too, a report recently released by Protect All Children from Trafficking, examined the response to sexual abuse of boys in Minnesota. The report found that just 15% receive the help and services to recover from the trauma they’ve experienced.
Boys reporting abuse have been confronted with insensitive, homophobic slurs — and in one case felt unwillingly “outed,” or blamed for the abuse. “When past help meant punishment, why risk reaching out now?” one service provider told researchers.
Co-author Jarrett Davis said these are among the factors contributing to a “screaming silence” that surrounds the sexual abuse of boys, who are too often criminalized when the trauma manifests in anti-social behavior.